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If you have even the slightest interest in tango, you should be attending this festival, the largest of its kind worldwide. Even if you don’t, you may want to consider that if you are in Buenos Aires, you are in the heart of the tango culture, and this is the best chance you’ll ever have to learn more about it.

The festival is essentially two events that happen at the same time. The first is a huge tango festival, which can be described as “everything relating to tango.” The highlight is all of the tango shows, ranging from traditional to electronic tango, and some of them by the best known tango groups in the world. You get to see loads of tango performances, and all of them for free!

Nonetheless, this festival is much more than just watching tango. If you are interested in learning more about tango, as well as how to dance, there are free seminars and dance classes. These classes are put on by some of the finest teachers in the city, and are available for both beginners and advanced.

Some other highlights of the event:

A Tango fair, which sells all sorts of products relating to tango – specifically clothes, music, and art.

A selection of cinema about tango

The presentation of books about tango

Clinics for tango musicians, or anyone interested in tango music

Conferences

To finish off the two weeks of tango is the World Tango Championships. The top tango dancers in the world compete to be named as the top dancers in the categories of Tango Salon and Tango Escenario. If you are not familiar with tango, you probably do not know the difference between the two, and for most people, Tango Escenario is by far the more appealing to watch. Here is a very basic definition:

Tango Salon: tango dancers dance in couples on stage, at the same time as various other couples.

Tango Escenario: each couple dances alone on stage to their chosen song, using their choreographed routine.

Although all performances and events are free, you still have to pick up tickets. Most of these have to be picked up within the first few days of the festival, and if you miss it, you won’t be able to get into most shows. For more information, visit the main site at http://www.mundialdetango.gob.ar/.

When: End of AugustWhere: Various locations throughout the capitalWhy: You have even the slightest desire to see Tango or to learn more about it.